Damage to the RW Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous (photo via Skilled Truckers Canada)
The Regional District of Columbia-Shuswap does not anticipate an extended closure of the Trans-Canada Highway as crews work to repair damage to the RW Bruhn Bridge in Sicamous following a fatal accident Saturday morning.
In an update Monday, the CSRD said there may be short-term closures or a one-lane alternating traffic restriction as workers work to repair the bridge deck and railing.
Drivers on the motorway are asked to pay attention to the speed limit of 30 km/h and any traffic police present.
The repairs were necessary after a semi-trailer truck crashed over the bridge early Saturday morning. The driver was killed and the bridge was significantly damaged. The bridge is scheduled to be completely replaced starting in the fall.
“Boating in the Sicamous Narrows is open to the public. Repairs to the bridge above will be suspended as necessary to allow boats to move safely underneath,” the CSRD update states. Observers will be deployed to ensure safety.
Nearby Sicamous Beach Park is still closed. The CSRD notes that other affected areas along the coast “may also be closed as needed.”
“The public is asked to continue to avoid these areas until cleanup operations are completed. It is not yet known how long the closures will remain in effect,” the CSRD said.
“Several environmental and oil spill response agencies are back on site to assess any environmental impacts and work on cleanup. Oil booms have been deployed to contain the diesel fuel that leaked from the truck.”
Drivers are asked to check DriveBC for the latest information on repairs, while updates from the CSRD are available here.
Tractor driver identified online
The driver of the semi-trailer was identified online as 25-year-old Raminderjit Singh, who worked for Abbotsford-based Mountain Peak Transport.
Raminderjeet Singh (Photo via GoFundMe)
“We believe this 25-year-old man died a hero,” said fundraiser organizer Cynthia Caglayan.
“We have been informed that he was able to avoid a head-on collision with a car and died. This has not yet been proven. This trucker is what we call a hero. He gave his life to save others.”
Caglayan says Singh leaves behind a sister, Sukhmanpreet, in Australia and his parents in India.
“All the funds collected will be used for his family’s needs,” she added. “It is not yet decided whether Sukhmanpreet and her parents will travel to Canada or whether Raminderjeet’s body will be flown home so that his last rites can be performed in India.”
“This is a tremendous loss and no family should lose a loved one in this way.”
